Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for a photo with members of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, who participated as “elves” in the Secret Angel project. Photo courtesy Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset

On Monday, families and children at the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center had the chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, eat a holiday lunch and receive personalized gifts.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset organized the Secret Angel Project, fulfilling wish lists for 83 children that were provided by Misty Bannister, the children’s services coordinator for the resource center, just days before Christmas.

Each child received personalized gifts and had the opportunity to participate in a family photo session with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Additionally, each family was provided with gift cards for Walmart and Safeway.

Eighty-three personalized gifts were prepared for children at Ka Hale a Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center as part of the Secret Angel Project. Photo courtesy Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset

Following the distribution of gifts, a holiday lunch was provided by Liz and Phil May along with 5A Rent-A-Space.

“The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset continues to share such an abundance of love and care to our keiki and families who are surviving homelessness and unfortunately, many other layers of difficult life circumstances,” Bannister said. “They have brought in so much joy to the children and the families by inviting Mr. and Mrs. Claus, who passed out gifts hand-picked just for them and provided a delicious lunch for the entire shelter.”

The event was supported by donor sponsorships from the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise, Lahaina United Methodist Church, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County and the Lahainaluna High School Interact Club through a grant from Maui United Way.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset sponsors various community service projects. The club meets the first and third Tuesday each month at the YMCA West Side Resource Center, 226 Kupuohi St., in Lahaina, starting at 5 p.m.

For more information, email Public Image Chair Joanne Laird at mamalrd01@gmail.com.